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Received Sep 12, 2017; Revised Nov 9, 2017; Accepted Jan 1, 2018
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1. Introduction
Worldwide, research in the past decades has shown an increased interest in the phytochemical products and plant extracts, due to frequent use in the prevention and treatment of some diseases. Several studies have demonstrated that the antioxidants found in plants are of major interest to medicine, owing to the fact that they protect the organism against oxidative stress, generated in the context of some diseases: atherosclerosis, ischemic cardiac disease, cancer, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, aging, and even in infectious diseases [1]. Experimental data have shown that polyphenols can offer an indirect protection by activating the antioxidant transcription through antioxidant-responsive elements (AREs) from the promoter regions of the genes induced by oxidative stress [2]. In addition, polyphenols can modulate the cell signaling involved in cell proliferation [3] and cell cycle progression [4] while also inhibiting inflammation and promoting the apoptosis of damaged cells [5].
Equisetum arvense L (field horsetail) is a perennial fern from the Equisetaceae family. It has a yellowish nonphotosynthetic spore-bearing fertile stem, produced in early spring. The green, photosynthetic, heavily branched sterile stems are produced in late spring and persist to late autumn. The sterile stem is the medicinal product of the plant (Equiseti herba) mentioned in European Pharmacopeia (Ph. Eur. 8) [6]. The most widely known phytochemical compounds of Equisetum arvense L. are flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, phytosterols, tannins, and triterpenoids [7].
Several studies have described different biological effects of Equisetum arvense L. extract or tea with natural extract, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, vasorelaxant, neuro and cardio protectors [8, 9], and antiproliferative properties [7, 10].
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading health problem worldwide [11]. 31% of all deaths are caused by cardiovascular conditions and over 75% of deaths in low-income and middle-income countries can be accredited to heart disease [12]. High salt intake, obesity, aging, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes are just some of the factors that correlate positive with inflammation, coagulations alterations, and elevated of extracellular fluid osmolarity found in cardiovascular diseases. In the...